Best Picture Power Rankings and Wes Anderson’s Oscar Chances
Oct 10, 2023
02:00:58
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The podcast discusses the trend of established auteurs exploring the short film genre, including Wes Anderson's recent quartet of short films. They also rank the films they think have a chance at getting a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. In addition, the podcast features a discussion with Grant Singer about his new crime thriller, 'Reptile'. The hosts also explore Wes Anderson's film adaptations of Roald Dahl's short stories, Pedro Almodovar's short films, and Ridley Scott's dedication to his vision by creating extended cuts of his films. They also touch on topics like their regrets about previous movie rankings, becoming a music video director, peripheral scenes in movies, working with actors, and directing with the audience in mind.
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Quick takeaways
Established auteurs exploring the short film genre
American Fiction as a potential Best Picture contender with satirical dramedy and positive reviews
All of Us Strangers as a potential Best Picture contender with emotional themes and strong performances
Anatomy of a Fault as a sleeper hit contender with unique blend of drama and satire
Barbie's potential Best Picture nomination with wide appeal and positive reviews
Maestro's strong chance of Best Picture nomination with captivating storytelling and performances
Deep dives
American Fiction
American Fiction is a contender for Best Picture, as it is a satirical dramedy that has received positive reviews and has the support of neon behind it.
All of Us Strangers
All of Us Strangers is a powerful and emotional film that has received positive responses. It has the potential to be a Best Picture contender, especially with its relatable themes and strong performances.
Anatomy of a Fault
Anatomy of a Fault is an interesting film that could be a sleeper hit for Best Picture. It offers a unique blend of drama and satire and has received positive reviews, making it a contender worth considering.
Barbie
Barbie is a fun and relatable film that has wide appeal. With its positive reviews and the backing of neon, it has a good chance of being nominated for Best Picture.
Maestro
Maestro is a highly acclaimed film and one of the favorites of the year. With its captivating storytelling and strong performances, it has a strong chance of being nominated for Best Picture.
The Killer
The Killer is a highly anticipated film directed by a respected filmmaker. While it may not make the Best Picture category, it has the potential to receive critical acclaim and recognition in other categories.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Killers of the Flower Moon is directed by Martin Scorsese and features a talented cast. With its prestige and intriguing storyline, it has a strong chance of being nominated for Best Picture.
The Holdover
The Holdover is a film that has generated a lot of buzz and positive reviews. It has the potential to receive nominations in various categories, including Best Picture.
The Color Purple
The Color Purple is a highly anticipated film with a talented cast. While its chances of being nominated for Best Picture are uncertain, its unique qualities and strong performances may give it a good opportunity.
Ferrari
Ferrari is an anticipated film directed by a respected filmmaker. While it may not be a frontrunner for Best Picture, its captivating story and high production value could generate excitement and recognition in other categories.
The Whole Truth
The Whole Truth is a highly anticipated film that has received positive reviews. Its unique storytelling and strong performances make it a contender for recognition in various categories, potentially including Best Picture.
May, December
May, December has generated interest due to its talented cast and intriguing storyline. While its chances for Best Picture nomination are uncertain, its strong individual performances may receive recognition.
The Bike Riders
The Bike Riders is a film that offers a unique perspective and storytelling style. While it may not be a top contender for Best Picture, its artistic qualities and captivating narrative make it an interesting film to consider.
Saltburn
Saltburn is a film that has garnered attention for its unique storytelling and strong performances. While it may not be a frontrunner for Best Picture, its artistic qualities could generate buzz and recognition in other categories.
The Zone of Interest
The Zone of Interest is a film that explores historical themes and features a talented cast. While it may not be a top contender for Best Picture, its thought-provoking storyline and performances could receive recognition in other categories.
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer is a highly anticipated film directed by a respected filmmaker. While it may not be a frontrunner for Best Picture, its compelling narrative and strong performances may generate buzz and recognition in various categories.
Priscilla
Priscilla is a film that offers a unique story and fresh perspective. While it may not be a top contender for Best Picture, it has the potential to receive recognition in other categories due to its artistic qualities and thought-provoking themes.
Ned
Ned is a film that explores personal and universal themes. While it may not be a frontrunner for Best Picture, its emotive storytelling and strong performances may generate buzz and recognition in other categories.
Past Life
Past Life is a film that delves into complex historical and personal themes. While it may not be a top contender for Best Picture, its artistic qualities and thought-provoking narrative could receive recognition in other categories.
Asteroid City
Asteroid City offers a unique blend of comedy and drama. While it may not be a frontrunner for Best Picture, its captivating storytelling and strong performances may generate buzz and recognition in other categories.
Blake City
Blake City is a film that offers a unique perspective and strong performances. While it may not be a top contender for Best Picture, its artistic qualities and compelling narrative make it an interesting film to consider.
Maria
Maria is a film that explores personal and universal themes. While it may not be a frontrunner for Best Picture, its emotive storytelling and strong performances may generate buzz and recognition in other categories.
Men of Color
Men of Color offers a unique perspective and strong performances. While it may not be a top contender for Best Picture, its artistic qualities and compelling narrative make it an interesting film to consider.
Intrepid
Intrepid is a film that delves into complex historical and personal themes. While it may not be a frontrunner for Best Picture, its thought-provoking narrative and strong performances could receive recognition in other categories.
Drawing on Hitchcock and Intuition
The director discusses his inspiration from Hitchcock and the intuition behind the tonal shifts and character development in the film, aiming to create a movie that is both precise and tonally all-encompassing.
Working with Veteran Actors
The director shares his experience working with veteran actors like Benicio del Toro, Eric Bogosian, and Alicia Silverstone, expressing the exhilaration and pressure of collaborating with such talented performers and striving to make the most of the opportunity.
Transitioning to Feature Filmmaking
The director reflects on the challenges of transitioning from music videos to making a feature film, highlighting the fast-paced nature of shooting consecutive days and the need for precision and efficiency, especially in a movie with a long script and formal construction.
Grant Singer's Transition from Music Videos to Feature Films
Grant Singer started his career as a music video director before making his debut with his first narrative feature film, Reptile. He had the opportunity to work with renowned artists and gradually established himself in the music video industry. Singer explained that his transition to feature films felt like a natural progression. He always had the desire to become a filmmaker and recognized the path that many successful directors took by starting with music videos. He emphasized the organic and collaborative nature of his music video projects, often working with friends and artists he admired. Singer's debut feature, Reptile, is a departure from the spectacle often associated with music videos, focusing on creating a specific feeling and tone through a restrained and rhythmic approach.
Pressure and Audience Reception in the Netflix Landscape
With Reptile being a Netflix film, Singer acknowledged the pressure accompanied by having a large audience. He discussed the challenge of balancing his unique vision while also considering the satisfaction of viewers. Singer reflected on the shift in audience size, comparing it to a performance going from a small venue to a massive one, where the audience's expectations and desires change. While he admitted that some decisions were made with the audience in mind, he stayed true to his own creative instincts and the feeling he wanted to evoke. With Reptile, Singer aimed to move the audience emotionally, creating moments of suspense and surprise that elicited physical reactions. He expressed excitement for the film to be experienced by a wide audience and hoped to continue making intense, visceral, and exhilarating films in the future.
Sean and Amanda discuss the quartet of Wes Anderson short films that dropped on Netflix and the trend of established auteurs exploring the short film genre (1:00). Then, they run through a long list of the films they think have a chance at getting a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars and rank the 10 they think are most likely to garner that nomination (35:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Grant Singer to discuss his new crime thriller, ‘Reptile’ (1:21:00).
